Geranium plant named Fisgeti

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of geranium plant named Fisgeti, particularly characterized by the combined features of light rose red flower color with a slight bluish tint, medium green foliage with weak zonation, strongly lobed leaves resembling the leaves of maple trees, vigorous but comparatively compact growth habit, very good branching ability, and early flower response.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of geranium,botanically known as Pelargonium peltatum l'Hert, commonly referred toas ivy geranium, and referred to by the cultivar name Fisgeti.

Fisgeti is a product of planned breeding program which had the objectiveof creating new ivy geranium cultivars with pink flower color andvigorous but well-branched growth habit.

Fisgeti was originated from a hybridization made by inventor IngeborgSchumann in a controlled breeding program in Galdar, Gran Canaria, Spainin 1987. The female parent was the cultivar M. J. Cole, having bluishpink semi-double flowers, compact plant habit, and early flowerresponse. The male parent was Salmon Queen, characterized by its salmonpink semi-double flowers, compact plant habit and early flower response.

Fisgeti was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross by Ingeborg Schumann in 1988 in a controlledenvironment in Galdar, Gran Canaria, Spain.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Fisgeti was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in autumn 1989in a controlled environment in Galdar, Gran Canaria, Spain, by, or underthe supervision of, Ingeborg Schumann.

Horticultural examination of plants grown from these cutting initiatedin May 1990, and continuing thereafter, has demonstrated that thecombination of characteristics as herein disclosed for Fisgeti arefirmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction.

Fisgeti has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength without,however, any variation in genotype. The following observations,measurements, and comparisons describe plants grown in Hillscheid,Federal Republic of Germany under greenhouse conditions whichapproximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Fisgeti, which, in combination, distinguishthis geranium as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Light rose red flower color with a slight bluish tint.

2. Medium green leaves with weak zonation.

3. Vigorous growth habit but comparatively compact.

4. Strongly lobed leaves, resembling the leaves of maple trees.

5. Very good branching ability.

6. Early flower response.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventors, themost similar in comparison to Fisgeti is the unpatented commercialcultivar Rigi. Reference is made to attached Chart A which comparescertain characteristics of Fisgeti to those same characteristics ofRigi. In general comparison to Rigi, Fisgeti has a more intense flowercolor and a different plant habit. Both cultivars are vigorous growers,but Fisgeti has much better branching. The internodes are shorter inFisgeti, and the leaf zonation is stronger in Rigi.

The accompanying color photographic drawing shows typical flower andfoliage characteristics of Fisgeti, with colors being as true aspossible with illustrations of this type.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determinedindoors in May from plants grown indoors in Hillscheid, Federal Republicof German.

Classification:

Botanical.--A hybrid of the species Pelargonium peltatum l'Hert.

Commercial.--Ivy geranium, cv., Fisgeti.

Inflorescence:

Umbel.--Shape: Semi-spherical. Average diameter: 85 mm. Average depth:50 mm. Peduncle length: 150 mm. Pedicel length: 24 mm. Pedicel color:Green, upper part red. Number of flowers per umbel: 12-15.

Corolla.--Average diameter: 50 mm. Form: Semi-double. Number of petals:8-9. Number of petaloids: 1. Color (general tonality from a distance ofthree meters): Light rose red to carmine Color of upper petals: 57B-58B.Color of lower petals: 57C. Markings on upper petals:: Dark red veinsand a white or light pink stripe between veins. Color of lower surfaceof petals: 55A and lighter. Color of sepals: Green; largest sepal hasanthocyanin coloring. Number of sepals: 5-6.

Bud.--Shape: Narrow, elliptical. Color (adaxial): Medium green. Color(abaxial): Red and white, marbled.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium: 7 fertile anthers, white filaments,orange-yellow pollen. Gynoecium: 5-6 lobed stigma, white style and pinkstigma.

Spring flowering response period.--In Hillscheid, Federal Republic ofGermany, in 1993 plants had on average 2.5 flowers opened 15 weeks afterplanting of unrooted cuttings.

Outdoor flower production.--The flower count in 1993 in Hillscheid,Federal Republic of Germany was between 75 and 80 flowers per plant forMay through September observation period.

Durability.--Shatter resistance good.

Plant:

Foliage.--Form: Ivy-shaped with strong lobes. Margin: Entire, apart fromnotches near the tips of lobes. Size of leaf: 100 mm. Color of uppersurface: Medium green, approximately 137C-D. Color (zonation): Olive,approximately 147A. Tolerance of botrytis: Average.

General appearance and form.--Internode length: 4.5-5.5 cm. Branchingpattern: 4.7 branches per week. Length: 80 cm (in September, 35-week-oldplants).

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        CHARACTERISTIC   FISGETI     RIGI                                             ______________________________________                                        Flower color     57B-58B     57C                                              Plant length     75-80 cm    100 cm                                           Internodes       45-55 mm    50-80 mm                                         Zonation         Weak        Strong                                           ______________________________________                                    

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of geranium plant namedFisgeti, as illustrated and described.